Movable table for sewing drapery lengths



Sept. 10, '1968 E. P. M C LINTOCK 3,400,674

MOVABLE TABLE FOR SEWING DRAPERY LENGTHS 4 FiledQan. 19, 1966 v a Sheets-Sheet 1 MACH/NE /4 $105 I N v EN TOR.

tV/GE/VE 2 MKA m racK E-baa AEM 5/05 Sept. 10, 1968 E. P. M CLINTOCK 3,

MOVABLE TABLE FOR SEWING DRAPERY LENGTHS Filed Jan. 19, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. FUGE/VEP. MCLM/TQCK United States Patent 3,400,674 MOVABLE TABLE FOR SEWING DRAPERY LENGTHS Eugene P. McClintock, Placentia, Calif. (400 N. Acacia, Apt. 20A, Fullerton, Calif. 92631) Filed Jan. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 521,633 5 Claims. (Cl. 112-2) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A movable drapery manufacturing table for trimming and sewing drapery lengths. The table includes a smooth horizontal substantially rectangular top with drapery clamps on a hem side of the table and drapery clamps spaced apart from the opposite or machine side of the table with a sewing machine mounted adjacent the machine side of the table to operate on drapery fabric stretched across the slot formed between the machine side drapery clamps and the 'table edge.

This invention relates to an apparatus for performing operations on pieces of fabric. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus for accurately sewing and cutting a large piece of dimensionally unstable fabric.

Considerable difiiculty had previously been experienced in sewing and trimming large pieces of dimensionally unstable fabric, such as drapery material, to accurate dimensions. The loose weave in most drapery materials permits them to pull or stretch considerably under a small force. This characteristic makes it extremely difficult to sew or trim this drapery material to accurate predetermined dimensions.

Broadly, the apparatus of this invention comprises a means for supporting a piece of fabric, means for gripping opposite edges of the supported piece of fabric so as to stabilize the dimensions of the fabric while it is supported, and a means for performing the desired operation on the fabric while it is supported and gripped with stabilized dimensions. In general, the means for supporting the piece of fabricis provided with an elongated opening at some point intermediate the two gripping means and that portion of the fabric upon which it is desired to perform an operation is positioned across this elongated opening. An appropriate apparatus, for example, a sewing and cutting head, is positioned adjacent the elongated opening so as to operate on the portion of the fabric which extends across the opening. The area of the elongated opening is of such proportions in relation to the area of the means for supporting the piece of fabric that at least the major proportion of the piece of fabric is supported by the means for supporting. In any event, the proportions of the elongated opening should be such that no substantial tension is applied to the piece of fabric due to the weight of that fabric which is unsupported in the elongated opening. The means for supporting the piece of fabric and the means for performing work on the supported piece of fabric are movable relative to one another. When the means for performing a desired operation is a sewing and cutting head, the relative motion between this head and the means for supporting causes the head to pass adjacent to the elongated opening throughout substantially the entire length of that opening.

More particularly, the apparatus of this invention comprises a table having a smooth substantially horizontal top movably mounted for linear motion. Preferably, the table is substantially rectangular and is defined as having front and rear ends and hem and machine sides. The table is preferably mounted for linear motion in a direction substantially parallel to the hem and machine sides. A hem clamp is adjustably mounted on the table top so that it ice extends in a direction substantially parallel to the hem and machine sides. The portion of this hem clamp on the table top may be varied from the extreme hem side of the table to almost the extreme machine side of the table. This adjustment of the hem clamp permits various lengths of fabric to be accommodated in this apparatus. A fabric clamp support member is provided in a position parallel with but spaced apart from and movable with the machine side of the table. Individually adjustable fabric clamps are mounted on the fabric clamp support member. The spacing and arrangement of the fabric clamp support member and the machine side of the table are such that a' longitudinal slot is defined between the machine side of the table and the support member. A sewing and trimming machine is so mounted that the sewing and cutting head of this machine operates on fabric which is stretched across the longitudinal slot defined between the fabric clamp support member and the machine side of the table. Means is provided for effecting relative motion between the fabric clamped on the table and the sewing and cutting head on the machine. Preferably the table is so mounted that it moves linearly past the sewing and cutting head carrying the fabric in a stabilized dimensional relationship past the head.

The apparatus of this invention is particularly useful in the making of draperies. In making draperies with the apparatus of this invention, the hem is clamped under the hem clamp and the material is straightened and smoothed on the smooth table top. The top of the drapery is clamped by the individually adjustable fabric clamps mounted on the fabric clamp support member. Care is taken to insure that the fabric is under a uniform tension throughout and that the seams are in correct alignment. The smooth surface of the table top facilitates the smoothing and aligning of the drapery material. Any drag or pulling on the material due to roughness on the surface of the table will tend to distort the fabric and will result in a drape of uneven length. A buckram dispensing device is provided adjacent the sewing and trimming machine so that a strip of buckram may be sewn into the top of the drape at the same time the drape is trimmed to a uniform length.

The apparatus of this invention is conveniently adapted for use where the drapes to be processed are not of uniform or standard lengths or widths. The ultimate length of the drape is conveniently and rapidly adjusted to a predetermined value by moving the hem clamp to the proper position on table top.

Trays are provided at both the front and rear ends of the table so that very wide drapes may be processed simply by clamping one section of the drape at a time on the table top with the unprocessed section of the drape in the rear tray and the processed section of the drape in the front tray.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic side elevation of the apparatus of this invention viewed from the rear of the table;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of this invention;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the apparatus of this invention showing several widths of cloth being processed; and

FIGURE 4 is a schematic side elevation of one embodiment of this invention viewed from the rear of the machine showing two leaves of the table hinged and partially folded from the hem side of the table.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 1 there is illustrated schematically one embodiment of the apparatus of this invention having a movable table, indicated generally at 10, a sewing machine, indicated generally by 12, supported on a sewing machine support frame, indicated generally at 14, and a web feed roller 16 supported by a web support frame, indicated generally at 18. Movable table is mounted on wheels which ride on guide rails 22. As best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the apparatus of this invention has front and rear ends and hem and machine sides. Movable table 10 moves from front to rear on wheels 20 along guide rails 22. Sewing machine 12 and web feed roller 16 are stationary and table 10 moves past them. Guide rails 22 are mounted on a table support frame indicated generally at 24. Movable table 10 is driven by motor 26 through a suitable pulley arrangement with table drive pulley 28, flexible table drive shaft 30, table drive sprocket 32 and table drive ratchet 34. Table drive ratchet 34 is positioned in table drive channel 36 which in turn is attached to movable table 10. Sewing machine 12 is also driven by motor 26 through a suitable belt connection between motor drive pulley 38 and sewing machine drive pulley 40. The movements of movable table 10 and the operations of sewing machine 12 are synchronized by the ratios of the pulleys and sprockets which drive them. Movable table 10 is provided with a smooth table top 42 and a movable hem clamp indicated generally at 44. Movable hem clamp 44 extends parallel to the hem and machine sides of this apparatus and is adjustably attached to the table 10 in such a manner that it may be moved from the extreme hem side of the table top almost over to the extreme machine side of the table top as desired. Scale 46 is provided along the front and rear edges of table 10 to provide a means for accurately locating a position on the table top for hem clamp 44. Sewing machine 12 is provided with a sewing machine throat 48 and a sewing and cutting head 50. Web feed roller 16 supplies a web of material 52 to guide roller 54 and then into contact with sewing and cutting head 50. The extreme machine side of table 10 is provided with a fabric clamp support member 56 which carries fabric clamps 58. Fabric clamps 58 are provided with fabric clamp pads 60.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 2 and 3 there is illustrated a plan view of the apparatus of this invention. Between fabric clamp support member 56 and the extreme machine side of table 10 there extends a longitudinal slot 62. The sewing and cutting head 50 operates on fabric which is stretched across longitudinal slot 62. Fabric clamp support member 56 moves rearwardly and forwardly through sewing machine throat 48. The extreme rear edge of table 10 is provided with rear fabric tray 64 to hold fabric before it is processed on table top 42. The extreme front edge of table 10 is provided with a front fabric tray 66 which is designed to hold fabric after it has been processed on table top 42.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 4 there is illustrated an embodiment of this invention wherein guide rail 68 is positioned on the floor and wheel 70 is attached to an extension of the table support frame indicated generally at 72. This arrangement places the guide rail 68 on the floor so that it is possible to walk around movable table 10 without interference from guide rails mounted above the floor level. There is also shown in FIGURE 4 the extreme hem side of movable table 10 in a partially folded position. First leaf 74 is folded from the table top 42 at first hinge 76. Second table leaf 78 is folded at second hinge 80.

The operation of the apparatus of this invention is particularly illustrated in FIGURE 3 wherein the apparatus of this invention is shown with seven widths of fabric, one width of fabric being indicated at 82, clamped on table top 42. A strip of web material is unrolled from web feed roller 16 and is clamped under web clamp 84. The desired number of widths of fabric are positioned on smooth table top 42 and the hem of the fabric is clamped under hem clamp 44. The edge of the fabric adjacent the machine side is clamped under fabric clamps 58 after it is smoothed and adjusted to a uniform tension on smooth table top 42. As the trimming and sewing operation begins, movable table 10 is at the extreme rearward position and sewing machine 12 is adjacent web clamp 84. In FIGURE 3 the apparatus is illustrated about half-way through the operation of sewing a web onto the machine side of the fabric clamped on table top 42. As a web of material is sewn into the machine side of the fabric clamped on table top 42 the fabric is trimmed to a uniform length. As the movable table 10 proceeds from the extreme rear to the extreme front position, a strip of trimmed fabric 86 is left secured in fabric clamps 58 while the other edge of the fabric is not power driven. The end of the web secured in web clamp 84 causes the required amount of web material to be pulled from roller 16 as movable table 10 progresses from the extreme rearward to the extreme forward position. After the trimming and web sewing in operations are completed, the movable table 10 is returned to the extreme rearward position, the strip of trimmed fabric 86 is released from fabric clamps 58 and the hem clamp 44 is released so that the widths of fabric on table top 42 may be removed. Preferably fabric clamps 58 are so designed that they can be individually adjusted. This facilitates smoothing and straightening of the fabric on the smooth table top 42 prior to sewing and trimming. Advantageously, fabric clamps 58 may be mounted on fabric clamp support member 56 in such a manner that they may all be released at one time. This facilitates removing the strip of trimmed fabric 86 from fabric clamps 58 when the trimming and sewing operations are complete. Hem clamp 44 is preferably provided with a quick release device to facilitate releasing the hem when the sewing and cutting operations are complete.

The table 10 is preferably made of a very rigid yet lightweight material. The rigidity is necessary to insure that the dimensions of the fabric which is being processed on the table are maintained at fixed predetermined values. The table 10 must be lightweight so that it can be driven to and fro without the application of excessive force. Suitable lightness and rigidity can be obtained through the use of a honeycombed material or a lightweight metal such as aluminum. The surface of the table top which contacts the fabric must be smooth so as to present substantially no drag to that fabric which is moved over it.

Previously in the manufacture of draperies, it had been considered necessary to clamp the hem of the drapery and iron the fabric smooth to insure that the drapery was not distorted when the buckram was attached to the top of the drape. The present invention eliminates the necessity for ironing drapery material to stabilize its dimensions.

The preferred embodiments of this invention described herein may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:

a movable table having front and rear ends and hem and machine sides;

a fabric clamp support member parallel with, spaced apart from and movable with said machine side to form a longitudinal slot between said machine side and said support member;

individually adjustable fabric clamps mounted on said fabric clamp support member;

a hem clamp adjustably mounted on the top of said table;

a stationary sewing machine having a sewing head, said sewing head being positioned in the longitudinal slot between the machine side of said table and said fabric clamp support member.

2. An apparatus comprising:

a light movable table having a smooth top, front and rear ends, and hem and machine sides, said table being movable in a direction parallel to said sides;

a fabric clamp support member spaced apart from,

parallel to, and movable with said machine side to define a longitudinal slot between said machine side and said fabric clamp support member;

fabric clamps afiixed to said fabric clamp support member, said clamps being adapted to grasp the edge of a piece of fabric which extends from said machine side across said longitudinal slot;

a hem clamp movably mounted on said table, said hem clamp extending across the top of said table parallel to said sides and being adapted to clamp the hem of a piece of fabric which is positioned on said table top; and

a stationary sewing machine having a sewing head, said sewing machine being so positioned that said sewing head operates in said longitudinal slot.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 including a stationary web dispensing means adjacent said sewing machine.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said table is mounted on a track which extends parallel to said hem and machine sides,

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the hem side of said table is foldable.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 61,101 1/1867 Rehfuss 1127 XR 793,074 6/ 1905 Hodgkins 112-7 XR 2,063,521 12/ 1936 OBrien 112-3 2,444,335 6/ 1948 Coppock 1122 2,738,746 6/ 1952 MacIsaac et al 1122 2,848,960 8/ 1958 Cetrulo 1122 3,073,267 1/1963 Reeber et al 1122 3,228,364 l/1966 Kremer et a1 112-2 3,299,843 1/ 1967 Alexefl 112-203 XR JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

I. R. BOLER, Assistant Examiner. 

